The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The New "Curev for Consumption.

The New "Cure' for Consumption.
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal.
The first cases of the administration of gaseous
enemata for the treatment of blood poisoning
and of affections of the respiratory passages
were reported to the French Academy of Sci
ences, July IL, 1886, by Dr. Bergeon. The ap-
paratus devised and exhibited by Dr. Maxwell.
last evening, was designed by DR.. V. Morel, of
Lyons The object in view is to supply to the
venous circulation an antiseptic such as SUI
phuretted hydrogen in sufficient doses to be eff
fective Sulphuretted hydrogen breathed into
the lungs in doses large enough to act as an anti
septic would suffocate the patient, as it would
be at once taken into the arterial circula-
ton and rob the blood corpuscies of their
oxygen. Sulphuretted hydrogen gas is made up
of two atoms of hydrogen combined with one of
sulphur. Water is made up of two atoms Of
hydrogen combined with one of oxygen. In
poisoning by sulphuretted hydrogen gas the
oxygen of the blood takes the place of the sui
phur of the gas. and so water is formed, sulphur
set free. and the red corpusclcs robbed OF their
Iife-giving oxygen. The symptoms-giddiness.
pain, nausea, loss of power, deirium. tetanus
and commissions. After death the blood is found
black and very fluid, and there is rapid putre-
faction. So it is impossible to inhale enough
Of this foul, antiseptic gas to do any
good Taken by the stomach, the pro-
longed use of the sulphides. whether the
gas be drunk in waters like those from
the famous Blue Lick Springs Of Kentucky, or
whether the solid sulphides of potash ana lime
be used, causes irritation of the stomach,
an@mia, wasting Of the muscles and general de-
bity.
Still the sulphidss of lime and potash are
much used to head off suppurative processes.
such as boils. scroIulous and other assesses,
and with good results.
Dr. Bergeon's method of administering the gas
by oenemata gets over these difficulties. The gas
is absorbed by the thousands of veins in the
walls of the bowels, passes by the great veins to
tss heart, and directly to the lungs, which in
every cell of their structure, are subjected
to the beneficial local antiseptic effects
of the gas without any danger to
the patient. as the gas has not
entered the arterial current at all The result
is the parasites producing consumption are
killed without killing the patient by direct in
halation of the gas, or irritating the stomach by
the prolonged administration of the solid sui
phides sulphurous waters.
OF all the antiseptic gases and vapors that
have been tried, many have been abandoned be-
cause CT their irritating effect upon the mucous
membranes. Even wind on the stomach" is
Objectionable, and wind is only the common air;
but mixture of carbonic-acld gas which is
an1sthetic, aud sulphuretted- hydrogen, the an
tiseptic, only produce sense of fullness which
is easily borne The two gases do not decompose
each other; the carbonic simply carries
the other gas along and diffuses it over great
surface so that it may be freely absorbed.
From one to eight quarts of the mixed gases
are used, twice day, an hour before meals and
two or three hours after meals. The natural
sulphur waters of Virginia and Michigan are
used in the Eastern cities. passing the carbonic
acid gas through the water. which thus takes
along with it the sulphur gas in the water.
mixture OF salt and sulphlde OF lime In water Is
also used as the source of the gas. which is
formed when the carbonic acid passes through it.
By these and other methods, all securing the
same result, q little of the antiseptic gas, with
q good deal of the harmless anasthetic gas
over one hundred patients have been treated in
Philadelphia alone, in hospitals and private prac-
tice, and the use of it is now getting common in
all large cities. 1t is claimed by its users that
it dimluishes the night sweatS and i'm proves the
appetite. and that there is less coughing as there
is less pus formed and therefore less to expel.
To those who accept the germ theory of vari-
Gus diseases, such as typhoid and consumption,
well as the generally admitted infectious and
contagious diseases, scarlatina, measles, etc. !,
there is nothing absurd unscientifc in this
principle or method of treatment. 1t is an
attempt to bring in contact with the
hidden and suppurating parts of the lungs, the
same autiseptic measures which are applied with
such confidence and success by every progressive
and intelligent surgeon of to-day, and which
have increased tenfold the recoveries from
wounds and tumors which few years since were
regarded almost certain death.
AS to the apparently uncanny method of APP
plication, it stands q par with the administra-
ton of nutrient enemata and of many ordinary
medicines when food and medicine cannot be,
mouth OF course those who, from
principle, or from lack of trial,
or knowledge oppose the germ theory of infec-
tious diseases and of suppurating wounds, will
make light of the candid and honest efforts of
others to oppose the ravages Of consumption by
any method that takes for its major premise
that consumption is due to the ravages of mi
croscopic plant which has found home in the
mucous mem brane or ultimate air-cells of an in
famed lung. But no harm can result from hon
est effort in hospital and private practice to put
this plan to trial
Consumption is abroad in the land; it always
has been it is more and more believed to be
contagious disease; the old treatments have
only ameliorated symptoms and sent patients te
more favorable climates; any effort alons
the line of bacterial causation and Therapeutic
should have fair trial. OF two hundred death:
in Boston any week il March or April, one hun
dred are due to diseases of the lungs to con
sumption, pneumonia and bronchial troubles
induced by climate producing the lesion
which give consumption and pneumonia form
ing germs a chance to do their deadly work
There should be opposition to honest effort
to thwart this enemy of the race.
A. VIBRATION